PHILADELPHIA — Coach Tom Shirley of Jefferson University has made history by achieving 900 career wins, becoming just the second women’s coach in NCAA Division II history to reach this remarkable milestone.

Shirley celebrated this achievement on Wednesday night when his team, the Rams, secured a victory against Caldwell University with a score of 58-33.

Spending the past 35 years of his 43-year coaching journey at this Philadelphia institution, Shirley’s career has been distinguished. He stands as the current leader in career wins among active Division II coaches and is second overall, only behind Barbara Stevens, who has 1,058 wins. With this latest victory, Shirley is now ranked 10th among all college coaches across divisions, and with just four more wins, he would ascend to ninth place in history.

Reflecting on his achievement, Shirley expressed his gratitude, stating, “While reaching 900 career wins is recognized as an individual achievement, it must be applauded as a group effort. Certainly, generations of very good players, who were terrific student-athletes, helped make this possible. The assistant coaches, university staff, and a supportive administration also deserve recognition.”

Over his coaching tenure, which includes time at both the Rams and DeSales University, Shirley has experienced 38 winning seasons. Last season, he guided the Rams to an impressive 32-2 record. His coaching accolades include three Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Coach of the Year awards, nine conference championships, and 13 appearances in the NCAA Tournament.

“I truly appreciate the consistency with which the teams achieved these milestones over 43 years, averaging 21 wins per season,” remarked Shirley. He acknowledged recruiting as a critical factor in his success, noting that it was significantly facilitated by the solid reputation of Thomas Jefferson University, both academically and professionally.